Abstract

YBa2Cu3O7−x target was laser ablated by an ArF excimer laser, and the time of flight (TOF) distributions of Ba atoms were investigated by laser induced fluorescence(LIF) as a function of the irradiation laser fluence (0.2–3 J/cm2) and the surrounding oxygen gas pressure (0–5.32 Pa). At higher irradiation fluence (≳2 J/cm2) without oxygen gas, the TOF distribution showed a twin‐peak distribution with fast and slow velocities, while only the slow velocity component was observed at lower fluence. When oxygen gas was introduced, the low velocity component was quenched at lower oxygen pressure than the high one, indicating that the TOF distribution can be controlled by the oxygen pressure.